Sri Lanka Champions League Explained

Country:Sri Lanka
Confed:AFC
Founded:
Teams:18
Relegation:S2 League
Level:2
Domest Cup:Sri Lanka FA Cup
Champions:Matara City (1st title)
Most Successful Club:Saunders SC (12 titles)
Tv:Football Sri Lanka TV

The S1 League (Sinhala; Sinhalese: එස්1 ලීගය; Tamil: எஸ்1 லீக்), or simply S1, also known as Sri Lanka Champions League, is the second tier division of the Sri Lankan football league system. It was succeeded by the professional Sri Lanka Super League which serves as the first division.[1] Until 2019, it was sponsored by Dialog Axiata and was thus officially known as the Dialog Champions League.

The league was conducted in various formats. Apart from the league system, a playoff stage was included in 2013–14 season. Currently, 18 clubs are participating in the tournament. Saunders have won the most titles in the league, winning 12 titles. Rathnam have won the title 5 times, Renown 4 times, and Colombo 3 times. In recent times, different clubs have been able to win the championship title.

History

The competition was started in 1985 and it was held every year. The 2016 Sri Lanka Football Premier League is the 32nd season of the Sri Lanka Football league. The tournament was conducted in various formats. Apart from the league system a playoff stage was included in the 2013–14 season. Currently 18 clubs participate in the tournament. Saunders are the most time champion with 12 titles. Rathnam have won the title five times and Renown four times. In recent times different clubs have been able to win the championship title. Colombo have won the title three times and are the current champions.

Competition format

In the current structure of the league 18 clubs compete for the title. In the first stage the teams are divided into two groups of nine. Those teams compete in a round robin format. The best four teams from each group qualify for the Championship Stage. In that stage the 8 teams compete in a round robin format and the group winner is the champion of the season. The bottom two teams of each group in the first stage are relegated to the Division I.

Qualification for international competitions

The champion of the league will earn the chance to play in the AFC Cup tournament which is organized by Asian Football Confederation. Also they qualify for the SAFF Club Championship. However the title holders didn't compete in any of the above competitions until 2014. The first team to play in the AFC Cup was Colombo FC, which won the title in 2015.

Previous winners

Champions so far:[2]

SeasonChampionsRunners-up
Colombo Football League
1985Saunders SCYork SC
1986Saunders SC
1987Saunders SC
1988Old Bens SC
Sri Lanka Bristol League
1989Saunders SC
1990Renown SC
1991Saunders SCRatnam SC
1992Saunders SC
1993Renown SC
1994Renown SC
1995Pettah United SC
1996Saunders SC
1997Saunders SC
1997–98Ratnam SC
1998–99Saunders SC
Sri Lanka Premier League
1999–00Ratnam SC
2000–01Saunders SCNegambo Youth
2001–02Saunders SCNegambo Youth
2002–03Negambo Youth
2003–04Blue Star SCRatnam SC
2004–05Saunders SCRatnam SC
2005–06Negambo YouthRatnam SC
2006–07Ratnam SCBlue Star SC
2007–08Ratnam SC
2008–09Army SCRatnam SC
Sri Lanka Champions League
2009–10Renown SCAir Force SC
2010–11Don Bosco SCArmy SC
2011–12Ratnam SCArmy SC
2013–14Air Force SCRatnam SC
2014–15Solid SCColombo FC
2015–16Colombo FC[3] Renown SC
2016–17Colombo FCRenown SC
2017–18Colombo FCRenown SC
2018–19DefendersColombo FC
2019–22Not held
2022–23Matara CityJavalane

Most championships

The number of national championships that clubs in Sri Lanka have attained.

Club
Number of Championships
Saunders SC12
Ratnam SC5
Renown SC4
Colombo FC3
Negambo Youth2
Defenders (previously Army SC)2
Old Bens SC1
Pettah United SC1
Blue Star SC1
Don Bosco SC1
Air Force SC1
Solid SC1
Matara City1

Sponsorship

The title sponsor of the current season in Dialog. So the league is known as Dialog Champions League. Other than dialog Cargills also sponsor the previous events. The official ball is supplied by Molten. The official broadcast partner is Football Sri Lanka TV.

Stadiums

Most of the clubs in this league haven't any FIFA Standard Stadiums. So most of the matches are played in the 25,000-capacity Sugathadasa Stadium and Kelaniya Football Complex. Some clubs play their matches in their home stadiums which are located in Colombo, Anuradhapura, Kelaniya and Kalutara.

Topscorers

YearBest scorersTeamGoals
2003–0419
2006–0724
2007–0812
2008–0913
2009–1014
2014–1526
2015 M.C.M. Rifnaz9
2016–1711
2017–1819

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Sri Lanka takes first steps towards establishing professional league. FIFA. 17 February 2022. 8 July 2022. 8 July 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220708230655/https://www.fifa.com/about-fifa/organisation/contact-fifa/contact-form/news/sri-lanka-takes-first-steps-towards-establishing-sustainable-professional. live.
  2. Web site: Sri Lanka – List of Champions. RSSSF. 26 April 2012. 16 November 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20171116012350/http://www.rsssf.com/tabless/srilankachamp.html. live.
  3. Web site: Colombo FC wins Dialog Champions League. 6 December 2015. 25 June 2016. 1 September 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180901093215/http://www.sundaytimes.lk/151206/sports/colombo-fc-wins-dialog-champions-league-174321.html. live.